1.Loose tea tastes better: Like other fine products, teas are rated andgraded. Classifications are made according to the appearance and typeof the pieces of leaf used and labeled as “leaf” grades and “broken”grades. The “leaf” grade consists of the large pieces of leaves thatremain after the broken grades have been sifted out. Tea sold in teabags generally comes from fannings or fines (dusts), which come frombroken grades. These tea dusts usually lack the high degree ofessential oils found in tea leaves that give loose teas theirexceptional taste.2. Loose teas are fresher and more satisfying:Our inventory changes often. We keep our teas sealed in dark, airtightcontainers and carefully place them in re-sealable, reusable foilpackages for you so you can buy just what you need. The result is freshtea that is far more satisfying than bags that have been stored onshelves for months.3. Loose tea provides a more sensual experience:Loose teas not only taste better, but they are more fragrant as well.Smell any one of our teas and you’ll notice how different each one is.You can also see the extraordinary shapes and sizes of the tea leavesthemselves, as well as the various fruits and flowers that have beenadded to many of our teas. A delight to the eyes, nose, and mouth,loose tea engages the senses.4. Loose tea enhances the teaexperience: Many have heard of elaborate tea rituals such as theJapanese Tea Ceremony, but it’s not necessary to go to such greatlengths to enjoy your tea. Create your own ritual – whether it’s makingtea part of the meditative process to begin your day, a relaxingaddition to a lazy afternoon with a good book, or the relaxing warmthjust before bedtime, tea fits into any part of your day or lifestyle.5.Loose tea is cheaper than tea bags: It seems hard to believe, but it’strue! Even some of our more expensive teas are cheaper thanpre-packaged teas. All you need to do is look at the cost per cup todetermine the value, and how can you put a price on something asrelaxing as brewing and enjoying tea?

How to Make Iced Tea

Making iced tea is easy as boiling water. Only $.12 per glass for most teas. Fresh

anti-oxidants and no worry of bacteria from sun tea. Approx. 80% of all our teas make excellent iced teas. Most fruit based black, green, white & herbals are all excellent iced.

How to Steep: It takes just a few simple steps to achieve the perfect pot or mug!

1. Heat fresh water in a tea kettle or electric tea kettle. Don’t microwave it! Microwaving causes a breakdown of the water molecules makes the tea taste flat.

2. Specific instructions for all of our teas are listed on each package. All instructions are based on an 8oz. cup so you’ll have to adjust the amount of tea you use to the size of the mug or teapot you are using e.g. a 12oz mug requires a heaping teaspoon (or 1.5tsp) and a 3-cup teapot would need 3 teaspoons (or 1tbsp.) of tea. Water temperature as well as steeping times vary by type of tea:Black Tea: 3-5 minutes @ 212°FOolong Tea: 3 minutes @ 190-200°FGreen Tea: 2 minutes @ 140-180°FWhite Tea: 2 minutes @ 180°FHerbal/Rooibos Tea: 7-10minutes @ 212°F3. Scoop tea into your infuser and pour water over the leaves. Steep according to directions. Remove the infuser after your tea is done steeping. Keep in mind that Oolongs, greens, and whites can be used for multiple infusions. We recommend using an infuser made of natural materials: stainless steel, glass, or unbleached paper filters. There is a current trend to utilize nylon teabags, also known as “silken” bags or “sachets”. These are actually nylon pouches made from Polylactic Acid (PLA), which is relatively new to the market. The safety aspect of mixing polyester and boiling water is unknown and there have been no long term studies. Loose tea is healthier, cheaper, more eco-friendly, and provides many more varieties of tea.How to Store Tea:Light, air, heat, and moisture will quickly destroy your tea. The best way to store your tea is in a cool, dry and dark environment (not a refrigerator). Our teas are packaged in re-sealable, opaque, high barrier pouches. You can keep your teas in the pouch, stored in a cabinet or pantry for six months to a year. If you are going to keep them for a long time, we recommend investing in a ceramic or tin canister with airtight lids. No glass.

HOW TO CHOOSE A TEAPOT

Like other passions, such as wine tasting, brewing tea can become a complicated, overly ceremonious ritual. We prefer a “no work” tea experience suited to a contemporary lifestyle without sacrificing taste. There are a few simple rules to help you find the right tea pot.

First, it’s important to choose a material that won’t alter the taste of your tea. An astonishing variety of teapots are available, ranging from the fanciful to the functional. Glass and ceramic, including porcelain and stoneware, are the materials of choice. Ceramic and glass teapots hold in the heat, especially if you warm them with hot water before filling. You may also choose to purchase a tea pot with a warmer, to ensure that your tea stays hot on those icy cold days. There are a number of plastic infusers(Ingenuitea), teapots on the market made from Polycarbonate with contains BPA. Plastics are harmful to the environment, leach chemical when heated. There is a variety of functional, affordable and beautiful designed teapots on the market that are madewith natural material offering a much healthier pot of tea.

Use an infuser, not a tea ball: Tea needs room to float so that the water can encompass the tea leaves, ensuring that all of the flavor is released. Unlike tea balls, infusers do not restrict the movement of the tea leaves and are generally much easier to clean.Find a teapot with a drip-less spout: Even the prettiest tea pot can turn out to be a royal pain when it drips all over the nice, white tablecloth. A drip-less spout will make your tea drinking experience much more enjoyable.

Match your décor or mood: Since tea drinking is such an aesthetic and sensual experience, it only makes sense to choose a tea pot that matches your style. Many tea aficionados have multiple teapots – something cheery and bright for mornings, something functional for the office or commute, and something elegant for dinnertime. Tea is such an integral part of so many cultures, and so many artisans have crafted tea pots, it’s easy to find the right tea pot for the right occasion!

Finally, take time to enjoy your tea! It’s not an experience meant to be rushed or gulped. “There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea.” – Bernard Paul Heroux.

HOW TO NATURALLY DECAFFEINATE TEA

Since caffeine is highly soluble in water, over 80% of the caffeine in tea is released within the first 20-30 seconds of steeping. Discard the water after the first 30-60 seconds of steeping and add fresh hot water to the now decaffeinated tea leaves. It’s also important to remember that tea has constituents which act to sooth and relax the body. These polyphenols only begin to dissolve after the third minute of steeping and will be almost fully extracted after five minutes. This long-steep tea is the secret of bedtime tea many swear by as a sleep aid.. .

Shop Info

Locally owned for 15 years.

111 S 18th Street Philadelphia, PA
Telephone: 215-568-2920

Monday-Friday 10am-7pm
Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 12-6pm

What is Steap?

With ten years experience in the loose leaf tea business, Premium Steap's customer service has always been of paramount importance. Our knowledgeable staff guides our customers as we strive to understand each of our customers' preferences both in store and online.